Page 259 of Hidden Depths

"What are you thinking?" I asked.

He looked across the water.

"I'm thinking Ashford didn't leave us that letter to scare us."

"Then why?"

"He wanted to know if we'd found the box."

My stomach tightened.

"He doesn't know."

Ward slowly shook his head.

"No."

"But now he knows where to start looking."

Inside the boathouse, Ivy had spread Grandpa's charts across the workbench.

Nathan stood beside her.

Willow had gotten Thomas some food and a shot of whiskey; he was licking his lips.

Nathan had been unusually quiet ever since Thomas told him about his father.

Finally, he spoke.

"I owe all of you an apology."

I looked up.

"For what?"

He swallowed.

"For not asking more questions years ago."

Thomas shook his head.

"No."

"You were loyal."

Nathan's eyes dropped to the floor.

"I was blind. I remember when my Dad said he retired. He told me to stay with James.

Thomas walked over and rested one hand on his shoulder.

"There's a difference."

Nathan looked at him.

"If James suspected my father..."

"...why didn't he tell me?"